Rajasthan government bans categories of pan masala, flavoured supari

The Rajasthan government has banned pan masala and flavoured supari in the state, health minister Raghu Sharma announced on Wednesday.

Sharma made the announcement during one of the several events held in Jaipur to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

“We have banned storage, distribution and sale of pan masala containing magnesium carbonate, nicotine, tobacco and mineral oil, and flavoured supari under Food Security Act, 2006,” the state health minister said.

All food inspectors have been asked to ensure compliance of the ban, the minister added.

In its first budget for the state, the Ashok Gehlot government had said it would form a policy to control sale of substandard material and be strict on sale of stolen material for a complete ban on pan masala and gutkha.

The Congress party in its manifesto for the Rajasthan assembly elections last December had promised “effective steps to check addiction among the youth”.